Investigation into Biden’s Mental Faculties
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Wednesday Republican lawmakers and federal investigators will continue digging into questions about former President Joe Biden’s mental faculties while he was in office.
Cornyn also highlighted allegations that those around Biden covered up his cognitive decline and said the ongoing probes could result in criminal prosecutions.
“People who engage in this sort of malfeasance need to know that there are consequences associated with it,” Cornyn told reporters following a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing he helped lead on the topic.
Background of the Investigation
Republicans played clips during the hearing in which Biden administration officials and Democratic lawmakers, asked by journalists about Biden’s fitness, vouched for his physical stamina and mental acuity.
“As we now know, there was a conspiracy to hide the president’s true condition by his family, by his staff, by the media and many elected officials,” Cornyn said.
Democrats’ Response to the Investigation
Democrats boycotted most of the hearing. The panel’s ranking member U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., delivered an opening statement criticizing what he described as a “political adventure” by Republicans.
Committee Republicans have avoided oversight hearings on President Donald Trump’s policies such as mass deportation and instead were engaged in “armchair diagnosing” of Biden, Durbin said.
He played clips of head-scratching Trump statements that “the windmills are driving the whales crazy,” immigrants are “eating the dogs” and the idea of injecting disinfectants as a cure for COVID-19.
“Do any of these statements raise a question of cognitive ability?” Durbin asked rhetorically. “You be the judge.”
Republicans’ Concerns about Biden’s Cognitive Decline
Cornyn said Biden’s cognitive decline represented a constitutional crisis that can’t be wiped away by the fact Democrats lost the presidential election. Current events demonstrate the need to have a president in full command of his cognitive faculties, he said, and the future of the country could hinge on how lawmakers address the situation.
He echoed other Republicans on the committee in describing the boycott by Democrats as an “admission of guilt” for their role in not intervening.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, a member of the committee, highlighted how the Biden White House began relying heavily on a mechanical autopen partway through his presidency.
Cruz said he’s been asked “literally a thousand times” by Texans who was running the country when Biden was president.
“I genuinely don’t know,” Cruz said. “And not a single Democrat here cares.”
Biden’s Response to the Allegations
Biden provided a statement to news outlets two weeks ago in response to Trump’s announcement of an investigation into Biden’s actions, his administration’s use of an autopen and allegations his staff covered up a cognitive decline.
“Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency. I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations,” Biden said in the statement, according to Axios. “Any suggestion that I didn’t is ridiculous and false.”
Political Implications of the Investigation
Cornyn is seeking reelection to a fifth six-year term and would be helped by a boost among the Republican base.
Various polls have shown him trailing Republican primary challenger Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general. The Paxton campaign has cast Cornyn as insufficiently dedicated to the conservative cause.
The Cornyn campaign X account posted repeatedly during Wednesday’s hearing, sharing memes mocking Biden as asleep at the wheel and manipulated by aides.
Some of the posts hailed Cornyn’s effort to investigate the matter and included links to a petition and information about making campaign donations.
During the hearing, witnesses talked about a paper trail that should exist with the executive orders Biden signed showing whether he truly approved those actions.
“That’s an important point,” Cornyn said afterwards. “We will get that information.”
Conclusion
The investigation into Biden’s mental faculties has sparked a heated debate between Republicans and Democrats. While Republicans claim that Biden’s cognitive decline poses a constitutional crisis, Democrats argue that the investigation is a political adventure. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen what consequences will arise from the probe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the investigation about?
A: The investigation is about former President Joe Biden’s mental faculties while he was in office and allegations that those around him covered up his cognitive decline.
Q: Who is leading the investigation?
A: The investigation is being led by Republican lawmakers and federal investigators.
Q: What are the potential consequences of the investigation?
A: The investigation could result in criminal prosecutions if it is found that Biden’s staff covered up his cognitive decline.
Q: How has Biden responded to the allegations?
A: Biden has denied the allegations, stating that he made all the decisions during his presidency and that any suggestion otherwise is “ridiculous and false.”
